Location Managers Guild Eyes June 22, 2014 for Awards Show

Event to contain about 20 categories

Hollywood will see a new awards show next year — with no collision with the Oscars — as the Location Managers Guild of America preps to launch its first awards ceremonies with a tentative date of June 22, 2014.

Awards chairman Tony Salome told Variety that the show would probably contain 20 categories, which will cover film, TV and commercials and will be voted on by the 350 LMGA members. An honorary kudo named after the late location manager Eva Monley is being planned, with the award to go to a person other than a location manager such as an actor. The LMGA is also considering an honor for a film commissioner.

Salome said that the decision to go in June was made very much with the idea of avoiding the cluster of shows during the fall and winter, culminating with Oscar ceremonies for the Academy Awards. The month also has been selected because it coincides with the annual expo by the Assn. of Film Commissioners International.

The LMGA has tapped Ingledodd Media, which has experience in awards shows, to produce the event. Location of the Location Managers event has yet to be set.

“We’re going to pick some place in Los Angeles that’s iconic,” Salome added. “Los Angeles is also where most of our members live, although we may eventually take the event elsewhere.”

The LMGA has been working on the event for the past year with the aim of elevating recognition of the role of location managers, whose work is not recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The location managers currently receive honors only through the 19-year-old California On Locations Awards, presented through the Film Liaisons in California Statewide project.